Cordel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	42	4	–	#3,953
1990s	194	19	+362%	#2,265
2000s	144	14	-26%	#3,442
2010s	52	5	-64%	#6,416
2020s (to 2025)	8	1	-74%	#8,904

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

#3,953

1990s

194

+362%

#2,265

2000s

144

-26%

#3,442

2010s

-64%

#6,416

2020s (to 2025)

-74%

#8,904

The story of Cordel

Cordel is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1982, 440 American babies have been named Cordel. Its peak came in 1997, when 37 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cordel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cordel?

The median living Cordel is about 26 years old; half are between 19 and 30. An estimated 400 people named Cordel are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Cordel year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	8	#8,904
2019	5	#12,539
2018	6	#11,044
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	6	#10,944
2014	–	–
2013	8	#8,952
2012	7	#9,912
2011	7	#9,822
2010	13	#6,416
2009	16	#5,605
2008	11	#7,297
2007	14	#5,965
2006	16	#5,348
2005	11	#6,719
2004	11	#6,606
2003	13	#5,615
2002	14	#5,183
2001	14	#5,179
2000	24	#3,442
1995	25	#2,861
1990	7	#6,541
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cordel, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cordel?

The median living Cordel is about 26 years old. Half of all living Cordels are between 19 and 30 years old.

How many people named Cordel are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Cordel are alive in the United States, based on 440 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Cordel mean?

Cordell or Cordel is a given name and surname, a diminutive cognate of the French "Corde".

How popular is the name Cordel in 2025?

Cordel did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Cordel?

440 babies have been named Cordel in the United States since 1982, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cordel most popular?

Cordel peaked in 1997, when 37 newborns received the name.

Is Cordel a boy or girl name?

Cordel is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cordel rising or falling?

Cordel is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Cordel

Cordel popularity over time

The story of Cordel

How old are people named Cordel?

Cordel year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Cordel